Underground, Fresh Street Art (@ les Frigos)

LES FRIGOS DE PARIS: HISTORY

This is maybe the only time in my life when I wished I had smoked something before visiting a new place, Les Frigos is such an underground, surrealistic place!

Here is the story: in 1914-18 Paris finally woke up from the Big War and it was time to provide Les Halles Market, in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris, with fresh products. Built in the year 1921 Les Entrepôts Frigorifiques de Paris-Ivry, better known as Les Frigos (the Fridges), was a huge hangar with many refrigerated rooms used to stock all the products transported by SNCF from the countryside to Paris. With its 18.000m3 of capacity, these refrigerated rooms could stock up to 6.000 tons of frozen meat.

In the sixties, the Halles Market disappeared and Les Frigos stopped their activity being abandoned soon after.

In 1980 the SNCF (the French National railway company), Les Frigos’ owners since 1945, decided to rent out parts of the warehouse to artisans and artists (some of them were already squatting here) and Les Frigos was transformed into some sort of artists’ mothership, taken under the wing of the Paris Rive Gauche program.

Today Les Frigos hosts 87 workshops bringing together 14 different professions: painters, sculptors, photographers, architects share their everyday life in a very special atmosphere.

This place can be visited every day to buy the artists’ production but once a year, normally by the end of May, Les Frigos organize an Open Doors weekend where visitors can enjoy dozens of exhibitions, small concerts and much more. This is one of the most expected year events in Paris by locals.

VISITING LES FRIGOS DE PARIS

In May 2016 World in Paris finally decided to visit Les Frigos and, well armed with our cameras, we started the exploration of this intriguing place.

Les Frigos de Paris is located in Paris 13, one of the most popular arrondissements of Paris, and today well known for its street art and mural program. At first sight, Les Frigos is not very appealing concrete construction, a kind of haunted place not very welcoming.

The walls are super thick to keep the cold. On workshops and corridors we still can see some remains of its former use but full of cool Street Art.

The journey into Les Frigos begins – and ends – with its winding stairwell where every possible surface is covered in paint. These stairs, Les Frigos’ old water tank, are the only way to get to the other four floors. Each floor takes you on an expedition into the unknown, every studio is a cave of surprises.

Apart from visiting the artists’ workshops, there were many mini events to entertain the public. We LOVED this small improvised poetry-concerts for example.

Below, some pictures of our favorite works:

LES FRIGOS DE PARIS: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Les Frigos de Paris is located in the 13th Arrondissement of Paris, at 19 rue des Frigos. M. Bibliothèque F. Mitterrand, L14. Entrance free. If you like Street Art, Paris 13 is full of great works by the most famous street artists.

So cool! I would totally visit. Great pictures, thanks for sharing. Happy travels 🙂

Izzy

07/12/2016 at 7:12 am

I am always trying to scope out the best street art around the world so to have come across this post feels like a real treat! I have never heard about this place but then again, it is an underground haunt. I love how this hangar has been repurposed for the modern-era. It’s amazing to see this place being used as a communal studio space. I pinned this and can’t wait to see it in person some day!

WorldInParis

07/13/2016 at 11:48 am

Thanks Rebecca! If you like underground art you definitely have to visit this place 😉

Very eclectic. I think I would like the poetry-concert. But the doll in pieces? Not sure about that one. 🙂 It’s great that the turned an old building like that into a place for people to express their art.

I’m heading to Paris in two weeks, and I’m absolutely checking this place out. Great share.

WorldInParis

07/13/2016 at 11:50 am

Cool, Tom! 🙂

BONJOUR, WE 'RE WORLD IN PARIS!

We are independent travelers and restless souls with a passion for our own city, the City of Lights. Quirky explorers with a preference for the local side of Paris and its less known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of Paris & beyond. Keep clicking for first-hand information, best tips & tons of inspiration to enjoy Paris Like a Local.